The Second of July

In July 1776, John Adams wrote to his wife, Abigail, after helping to secure the votes to declare independence from Britain:

“I am apt to believe that it will be celebrated, by succeeding Generations, as the great anniversary Festival. It ought to be commemorated, as the Day of Deliverance by solemn Acts of Devotion to God Almighty. It ought to be solemnized with Pomp and Parade, with Shews, Games, Sports, Guns, Bells, Bonfires and Illuminations from one End of this Continent to the other from this Time forward forever more.”

The date Adams referred to was July 2, 1776, the day that Congress actually declared “That these United Colonies are, and of right ought to be, free and independent States” – a date all but forgotten on the American cultural and social calendar.

What makes this more of interest to us is that the first public reading of the Declaration may have been in Frankford. It is subject to debate but there is some evidence to support it. It would be a great idea to have a ceremony to commemorate that event every year.